EU cautions Russia of potential sanctions if it does not back off Ukraine

A report by the Wall Street Journal said that foreign ministers of the European Union have expressed that they prepared to act against Russia should the latter decides to push through with its plans for Ukraine. The bloc has recently seized border posts in Crimea, prompting an international outcry for country's intent to gain a political advantage over leaderless Ukraine. The Eastern European country is already embattled with alleged corruption by its former President Viktor Yanukovych and its allies, who had left the country following violence exacted by authorities on site against demonstrators. WSJ said Yanukovych is an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The newspaper said the crisis in Ukraine had forced European Council President Herman Van Rompuy to meet in Brussels to discuss appropriate actions should Russia continue with its act of aggression. Some of the actions will include a suspension of ongoing talks for easing visa procedures and potential agreements in trade and economic opportunities, EU ministers have said.

WSJ said European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday in Madrid regarding the crisis.

During the Monday meeting, it was decided that one of the two immediate actions were to expand the sanctions in Ukraine, which will now include a freeze and recovery on all assets from people, Yanukovych included, who are purportedly involved with the misappropriation of government funds. Moreover, the ministers has backed an international-assistance package to address the immediate needs of Ukraine so long as its interim government is open to reforms.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated about the EU's latest measures, "In this phase, we in Europe don't have to and must not take action based on rumors, imperfect information and news agency reports. If there are no fast and credible contributions to de-escalation from Russia, decisions will have to be taken that will affect the bilateral relationship between the EU and Russia."

Tags

European Union, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukraine crisis

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